Mehak Nagpal and Rakesh Jangid
the Indian context. Methods: Cross-sectional comparison study. Sample size: 100 previously diagnosed type 2 DM patients attending Outpatient Diabetic Clinic in a tertiary care hospital; aged 20-65 years and 60 normal healthy female subjects for control group. Data was collected with ethical approval over a period of 2 years. Tools used: 1) Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI). 2) Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX-F) for female screening. 3) The Appraisal of Diabetes Scale (ADS). Results: There was significantly greater impairment in the sexual functioning of women with type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared to controls; both prevalence (62% vs. 38.3%) and severity (p-value <0.01). Arousal (74.2% vs. 53.3%), Desire (76.3% vs. 50%) and Satisfaction (76.7% vs. 63.7%) were most affected and 64.5% were affected in 2 or more domains. A negative illness appraisal on ADS correlated significantly with poor glycaemic control, higher rates of depression and also more severe female sexual dysfunction (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: Diabetes specific factors that correlated significantly with FSD in this study included the psychological appraisal of diabetes, duration of diabetes, presence of complications and BMI.